Transcriptional regulation of cytokines in health and disease

Cytokines are key messengers of the immune system. They enable immune cells to communicate and coordinate nearly every stage of an immune response - from recognizing danger, to ramping up defenses, to calming inflammation once a threat has passed. Because these signals are so powerful, the body must carefully control when and how cytokine genes are activated. Proper regulation ensures that immune responses are effective without becoming excessive or harmful.This Research Topic highlights how cytokine production is controlled at the level of gene transcription - that is, how the cell determines whether a cytokine gene should be active or silent. This regulation is complex and involves many layers, including transcription factors that bind DNA and activate genes, the way DNA is packaged inside the cell (chromatin structure), and the influence of non-coding genetic elements and signaling pathways that respond to environmental cues.We invite studies that explore any of these layers, whether in fine molecular detail or from a broader systems immunology perspective. Examples include work showing:- How different transcription factors select and activate cytokine genes- How chromatin accessibility, genome organization, and epigenetic marks help immune cells prepare for rapid cytokine responses- How microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and other regulatory RNAs fine-tune cytokine gene activity. We are especially interested in research across a wide range of innate and adaptive immune cell types - such as macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, innate lymphoid cells, T cells, and B cells - and in understanding how their transcriptional programs shift during immune activation.Understanding how cytokine transcription is regulated is equally important for explaining the origins of disease. When cytokine levels are not properly controlled, the result can be harmful inflammation or immune dysfunction. This imbalance plays a major role in conditions such as autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory disorders, infections, allergies, and cancer. We encourage submissions that reveal how disruptions in transcriptional control - caused by genetic differences, environmental exposures, interactions with pathogens, cancer-related changes, or medical treatments - lead to abnormal cytokine production and contribute to disease. Systems-level and multi-omics studies that connect regulatory networks to clinical or pathological outcomes are also highly relevant.By bringing together fundamental research, experimental disease models, and translational insights, this Research Topic aims to bridge detailed molecular mechanisms with a broader understanding of immune-related diseases. Ultimately, this knowledge will support the development of targeted strategies to fine-tune cytokine responses, including small-molecule drugs, biologics, gene-editing tools, and novel cell-based therapies.We welcome both original research articles and review papers, including focused reviews that provide up-to-date perspectives on specific cytokines or regulatory mechanisms. Topic editors: Athanasia Mouzaki, Tassos Georgakopoulos, Irene Athanassakis Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76981/transcriptional-regulation-of-cytokines-in-health-and-disease